σπάω
Ancient Greek
Alternative forms
- σπᾰ́ζω (spắzō)
Etymology
García-Ramón suggests that the term is cognate with Vedic Sanskrit पा (pā, “to rise against, be hostile”) and Hittite [script needed] (pippa-, “to overturn”), and reconstructs Proto-Indo-European *(s)peh₂- (“to draw, set in motion”). See also σπᾰ́θη (spắthē, “broad blade, spathe”).[1]
An older theory by Klingenschmitt connects the Greek verb with Old Armenian հանեմ (hanem, “to draw or pull out”).
Pronunciation
- (5th BCE Attic) IPA(key): /spá.ɔː/
- (1st CE Egyptian) IPA(key): /ˈspa.o/
- (4th CE Koine) IPA(key): /ˈspa.o/
- (10th CE Byzantine) IPA(key): /ˈspa.o/
- (15th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA(key): /ˈspa.o/
Verb
σπᾰ́ω • (spắō)
- to draw a sword
- (of other things) to draw
- (of violent actions) to pluck off or out
- to tear, rend, especially of ravenous animals
- to wrench, sprain, twist
- to snatch, tear or drag away
- (figuratively) to carry away, draw aside
- to cause convulsion or spasm
- to draw in, suck in, involve
- to draw tight, pull the reins
- to derive
Inflection
Present: σπᾰ́ω, σπᾰ́ομαι (Uncontracted)
| number | singular | dual | plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | second | third | second | third | first | second | third | ||||||
| active | indicative | σπᾰ́ω | σπᾰ́εις | σπᾰ́ει | σπᾰ́ετον | σπᾰ́ετον | σπᾰ́ομεν | σπᾰ́ετε | σπᾰ́ουσῐ(ν) | ||||
| subjunctive | σπᾰ́ω | σπᾰ́ῃς | σπᾰ́ῃ | σπᾰ́ητον | σπᾰ́ητον | σπᾰ́ωμεν | σπᾰ́ητε | σπᾰ́ωσῐ(ν) | |||||
| optative | σπᾰ́οιμῐ | σπᾰ́οις | σπᾰ́οι | σπᾰ́οιτον | σπᾰοίτην | σπᾰ́οιμεν | σπᾰ́οιτε | σπᾰ́οιεν | |||||
| imperative | σπᾰ́ε | σπᾰέτω | σπᾰ́ετον | σπᾰέτων | σπᾰ́ετε | σπᾰόντων | |||||||
| middle/ passive |
indicative | σπᾰ́ομαι | σπᾰ́ῃ / σπᾰ́ει | σπᾰ́εται | σπᾰ́εσθον | σπᾰ́εσθον | σπᾰόμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́εσθε | σπᾰ́ονται | ||||
| subjunctive | σπᾰ́ωμαι | σπᾰ́ῃ | σπᾰ́ηται | σπᾰ́ησθον | σπᾰ́ησθον | σπᾰώμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́ησθε | σπᾰ́ωνται | |||||
| optative | σπᾰοίμην | σπᾰ́οιο | σπᾰ́οιτο | σπᾰ́οισθον | σπᾰοίσθην | σπᾰοίμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́οισθε | σπᾰ́οιντο | |||||
| imperative | σπᾰ́ου | σπᾰέσθω | σπᾰ́εσθον | σπᾰέσθων | σπᾰ́εσθε | σπᾰέσθων | |||||||
| active | middle/passive | ||||||||||||
| infinitive | σπᾰ́ειν | σπᾰ́εσθαι | |||||||||||
| participle | m | σπᾰ́ων | σπᾰόμενος | ||||||||||
| f | σπᾰ́ουσᾰ | σπᾰομένη | |||||||||||
| n | σπᾰ́ον | σπᾰόμενον | |||||||||||
| Notes: | This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
| ||||||||||||
Present: σπῶ, σπῶμαι (Contracted)
| number | singular | dual | plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | second | third | second | third | first | second | third | ||||||
| active | indicative | σπῶ | σπᾷς | σπᾷ | σπᾶτον | σπᾶτον | σπῶμεν | σπᾶτε | σπῶσῐ(ν) | ||||
| subjunctive | σπῶ | σπᾷς | σπᾷ | σπᾶτον | σπᾶτον | σπῶμεν | σπᾶτε | σπῶσῐ(ν) | |||||
| optative | σπῴην / σπῷμῐ | σπῴης / σπῷς | σπῴη / σπῷ | σπῷτον / σπῴητον | σπῴτην / σπῳήτην | σπῷμεν / σπῴημεν | σπῷτε / σπῴητε | σπῷεν / σπῴησᾰν | |||||
| imperative | σπᾶ | σπᾱ́τω | σπᾶτον | σπᾱ́των | σπᾶτε | σπώντων | |||||||
| middle/ passive |
indicative | σπῶμαι | σπᾷ | σπᾶται | σπᾶσθον | σπᾶσθον | σπώμεθᾰ | σπᾶσθε | σπῶνται | ||||
| subjunctive | σπῶμαι | σπᾷ | σπᾶται | σπᾶσθον | σπᾶσθον | σπώμεθᾰ | σπᾶσθε | σπῶνται | |||||
| optative | σπῴμην | σπῷο | σπῷτο | σπῷσθον | σπῴσθην | σπῴμεθᾰ | σπῷσθε | σπῷντο | |||||
| imperative | σπῶ | σπᾱ́σθω | σπᾶσθον | σπᾱ́σθων | σπᾶσθε | σπᾱ́σθων | |||||||
| active | middle/passive | ||||||||||||
| infinitive | σπᾶν | σπᾶσθαι | |||||||||||
| participle | m | σπῶν | σπώμενος | ||||||||||
| f | σπῶσᾰ | σπωμένη | |||||||||||
| n | σπῶν | σπώμενον | |||||||||||
| Notes: | This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
| ||||||||||||
Imperfect: ἔσπᾰον, ἐσπᾰόμην (Uncontracted)
| number | singular | dual | plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | second | third | second | third | first | second | third | ||||||
| active | indicative | ἔσπᾰον | ἔσπᾰες | ἔσπᾰε(ν) | ἐσπᾰ́ετον | ἐσπᾰέτην | ἐσπᾰ́ομεν | ἐσπᾰ́ετε | ἔσπᾰον | ||||
| middle/ passive |
indicative | ἐσπᾰόμην | ἐσπᾰ́ου | ἐσπᾰ́ετο | ἐσπᾰ́εσθον | ἐσπᾰέσθην | ἐσπᾰόμεθᾰ | ἐσπᾰ́εσθε | ἐσπᾰ́οντο | ||||
| Notes: | This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
| ||||||||||||
Imperfect: ἔσπων, ἐσπώμην (Contracted)
| number | singular | dual | plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | second | third | second | third | first | second | third | ||||||
| active | indicative | ἔσπων | ἔσπᾱς | ἔσπᾱ | ἐσπᾶτον | ἐσπᾱ́την | ἐσπῶμεν | ἐσπᾶτε | ἔσπων | ||||
| middle/ passive |
indicative | ἐσπώμην | ἐσπῶ | ἐσπᾶτο | ἐσπᾶσθον | ἐσπᾱ́σθην | ἐσπώμεθᾰ | ἐσπᾶσθε | ἐσπῶντο | ||||
| Notes: | This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
| ||||||||||||
Future: σπᾰ́σω, σπᾰ́σομαι
| number | singular | dual | plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | second | third | second | third | first | second | third | ||||||
| active | indicative | σπᾰ́σω | σπᾰ́σεις | σπᾰ́σει | σπᾰ́σετον | σπᾰ́σετον | σπᾰ́σομεν | σπᾰ́σετε | σπᾰ́σουσῐ(ν) | ||||
| optative | σπᾰ́σοιμῐ | σπᾰ́σοις | σπᾰ́σοι | σπᾰ́σοιτον | σπᾰσοίτην | σπᾰ́σοιμεν | σπᾰ́σοιτε | σπᾰ́σοιεν | |||||
| middle | indicative | σπᾰ́σομαι | σπᾰ́σῃ / σπᾰ́σει | σπᾰ́σεται | σπᾰ́σεσθον | σπᾰ́σεσθον | σπᾰσόμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́σεσθε | σπᾰ́σονται | ||||
| optative | σπᾰσοίμην | σπᾰ́σοιο | σπᾰ́σοιτο | σπᾰ́σοισθον | σπᾰσοίσθην | σπᾰσοίμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́σοισθε | σπᾰ́σοιντο | |||||
| active | middle | ||||||||||||
| infinitive | σπᾰ́σειν | σπᾰ́σεσθαι | |||||||||||
| participle | m | σπᾰ́σων | σπᾰσόμενος | ||||||||||
| f | σπᾰ́σουσᾰ | σπᾰσομένη | |||||||||||
| n | σπᾰ́σον | σπᾰσόμενον | |||||||||||
| Notes: | This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
| ||||||||||||
Aorist: ἔσπᾰσᾰ, ἐσπᾰσᾰ́μην
| number | singular | dual | plural | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| first | second | third | second | third | first | second | third | ||||||
| active | indicative | ἔσπᾰσᾰ | ἔσπᾰσᾰς | ἔσπᾰσε(ν) | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰτον | ἐσπᾰσᾰ́την | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰμεν | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰτε | ἔσπᾰσᾰν | ||||
| subjunctive | σπᾰ́σω | σπᾰ́σῃς | σπᾰ́σῃ | σπᾰ́σητον | σπᾰ́σητον | σπᾰ́σωμεν | σπᾰ́σητε | σπᾰ́σωσῐ(ν) | |||||
| optative | σπᾰ́σαιμῐ | σπᾰ́σειᾰς / σπᾰ́σαις | σπᾰ́σειε(ν) / σπᾰ́σαι | σπᾰ́σαιτον | σπᾰσαίτην | σπᾰ́σαιμεν | σπᾰ́σαιτε | σπᾰ́σειᾰν / σπᾰ́σαιεν | |||||
| imperative | σπᾰ́σον | σπᾰσᾰ́τω | σπᾰ́σᾰτον | σπᾰσᾰ́των | σπᾰ́σᾰτε | σπᾰσᾰ́ντων | |||||||
| middle | indicative | ἐσπᾰσᾰ́μην | ἐσπᾰ́σω | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰτο | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰσθον | ἐσπᾰσᾰ́σθην | ἐσπᾰσᾰ́μεθᾰ | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰσθε | ἐσπᾰ́σᾰντο | ||||
| subjunctive | σπᾰ́σωμαι | σπᾰ́σῃ | σπᾰ́σηται | σπᾰ́σησθον | σπᾰ́σησθον | σπᾰσώμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́σησθε | σπᾰ́σωνται | |||||
| optative | σπᾰσαίμην | σπᾰ́σαιο | σπᾰ́σαιτο | σπᾰ́σαισθον | σπᾰσαίσθην | σπᾰσαίμεθᾰ | σπᾰ́σαισθε | σπᾰ́σαιντο | |||||
| imperative | σπᾰ́σαι | σπᾰσᾰ́σθω | σπᾰ́σᾰσθον | σπᾰσᾰ́σθων | σπᾰ́σᾰσθε | σπᾰσᾰ́σθων | |||||||
| active | middle | ||||||||||||
| infinitive | σπᾰ́σαι | σπᾰ́σᾰσθαι | |||||||||||
| participle | m | σπᾰ́σᾱς | σπᾰσᾰ́μενος | ||||||||||
| f | σπᾰ́σᾱσᾰ | σπᾰσᾰμένη | |||||||||||
| n | σπᾰ́σᾰν | σπᾰσᾰ́μενον | |||||||||||
| Notes: | This table gives Attic inflectional endings. For conjugation in dialects other than Attic, see Appendix:Ancient Greek dialectal conjugation.
| ||||||||||||
Derived terms
- ἀνᾰσπᾰ́ω (anăspắō)
- ἀντῐσπᾰ́ω (antĭspắō)
- ἀποσπᾰ́ω (apospắō)
- δῐᾰσπᾰ́ω (dĭăspắō)
- ἐκσπᾰ́ω (ekspắō)
- ἐπῐσπᾰ́ω (epĭspắō)
- κᾰτᾰσπᾰ́ω (kătăspắō)
- μετᾰσπᾰ́ω (metăspắō)
- πᾰρᾰσπᾰ́ω (părăspắō)
- περῐσπᾰ́ω (perĭspắō)
- σπᾰ́δῐον (spắdĭon)
- σπᾰδών (spădṓn)
- σπᾰ́δων (spắdōn)
- σπᾰ́σῐς (spắsĭs)
- σπᾰ́σμᾰ (spắsmă)
- σπᾰσμός (spăsmós)
- σπᾰστῐκός (spăstĭkós)
- σῠσπᾰ́ω (sŭspắō)
- ὑποσπᾰ́ω (hupospắō)
Descendants
References
- ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “σπάω, σπάομαι”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 1378
Further reading
- “σπάω”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “σπάω”, in Liddell & Scott (1889) An Intermediate Greek–English Lexicon, New York: Harper & Brothers
- “σπάω”, in Autenrieth, Georg (1891) A Homeric Dictionary for Schools and Colleges, New York: Harper and Brothers
- σπάω in Bailly, Anatole (1935) Le Grand Bailly: Dictionnaire grec-français, Paris: Hachette
- σπάω in Cunliffe, Richard J. (1924) A Lexicon of the Homeric Dialect: Expanded Edition, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, published 1963
Greek
Alternative forms
- σπω (spo) (uncommon)
Etymology
From Byzantine Greek σπῶ (spô) / σπάω (spáō), from Ancient Greek σπάω (spáō), of Proto-Indo-European origin. Also see σπάζω (spázo).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈspa.o/
- Hyphenation: σπά‧ω
Verb
σπάω • (spáo) (imperfect έσπαγα, past έσπασα, passive —, ppp σπασμένος)
- alternative form of σπάζω (spázo) (active voice only)
Conjugation
σπάω (active voice only plus passive perfect participle)
| Active voice ➤ | ||||
| Indicative mood ➤ | Imperfective aspect ➤ | Perfective aspect ➤ | ||
| Non-past tenses ➤ | Present ➤ | Dependent ➤ | ||
| 1 sg | , (σπω) (σπάζω →) | σπάσω1 | ||
| 2 sg | σπας | σπάσεις | ||
| 3 sg | σπάει | σπάσει | ||
| 1 pl | σπάμε | σπάσουμε, [‑ομε] | ||
| 2 pl | σπάτε | σπάσετε | ||
| 3 pl | σπάνε, σπαν | σπάσουν(ε) | ||
| Past tenses ➤ | Imperfect ➤ | Simple past ➤ | ||
| 1 sg | έσπαγα (→ έσπαζα) | έσπασα1 | ||
| 2 sg | έσπαγες | έσπασες | ||
| 3 sg | έσπαγε | έσπασε | ||
| 1 pl | σπάγαμε | σπάσαμε | ||
| 2 pl | σπάγατε | σπάσατε | ||
| 3 pl | έσπαγαν, σπάγαν(ε) | έσπασαν, σπάσαν(ε) | ||
| Future tenses ➤ | Continuous ➤ | Simple ➤ | ||
| 1 sg | θα ➤ | θα σπάσω ➤ | ||
| 2,3 sg, 1,2,3 pl | θα σπας, ... | θα σπάσεις, … | ||
| Perfect aspect ➤ | ||||
| Present perfect ➤ | έχω, έχεις, … σπάσει | είμαι, είσαι, … σπασμένος, ‑η, ‑ο ➤ (also passive voice) | ||
| Past perfect ➤ | είχα, είχες, … σπάσει | ήμουν, ήσουν, … σπασμένος, ‑η, ‑ο | ||
| Future perfect ➤ | θα έχω, θα έχεις, … σπάσει | θα είμαι, θα είσαι, … σπασμένος, ‑η, ‑ο | ||
| Subjunctive mood ➤ | Formed using present, dependent (for simple past) or present perfect from above with a particle (να, ας). | |||
| Imperative mood ➤ | Imperfective aspect | Perfective aspect | ||
| 2 sg | σπάε | σπάσε | ||
| 2 pl | σπάτε | σπάστε | ||
| Other forms | ||||
| Active present participle ➤ | σπώντας (→ σπάζοντας) ➤ | |||
| Active perfect participle ➤ | έχοντας σπάσει ➤ | |||
| Passive perfect participle ➤ | σπασμένος, -η, -ο1 ➤ | |||
| Nonfinite form ➤ | σπάσει | |||
| Notes Appendix:Greek verbs |
1. Shared forms with σπάζω. • (…) optional or informal. […] rare. {…} learned, archaic. • Multiple forms are shown in order of reducing frequency. • Periphrastic imperative forms may be produced using the subjunctive. | |||
Derived terms
- μου τη σπάει (mou ti spáei, “it irritates me”) (colloquial only)
- σπάω στο ξύλο (spáo sto xýlo, “to beat someone up”)
Related terms
- ξεσπάω (xespáo) / ξεσπώ (xespó)
- and see: σπάζω (spázo)